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Connect Recognizes Innovation With a Red Carpet Twist

In an Oscars-inspired event, San Diego trade group Connect honored some of the region’s most dynamic technology and life sciences innovators at its annual awards ceremony Dec. 11.

The Most Innovative New Product awards, now in its 22nd year, brought together an audience of more than 800 of San Diego’s top executives, entrepreneurs, service providers and academics at the Hilton La Jolla Torrey Pines.

Basketball Hall of Famer Bill Walton, who recently agreed to promote Connect’s Sport Innovators accelerator program as an executive director, also made an appearance.

Duane Roth, CEO of Connect, said this year’s finalists are some of the most talented he’s seen to date. “It gives you a snapshot of all the incredible things happening here,” he said. “We’re optimistic about the future of innovation.”

The MIP Awards finalists were tied in two of the competition’s eight categories, which included everything from medical to military applications.

The rules stipulate that products and technologies involved must come from San Diego and have been commercialized in the last year. About 100 entrants were narrowed to a group of 26 finalists in eight categories. The event’s winners were:

Action and Sport Technologies: Neptunic Technologies for Neptech Protective Material, a lightweight material used for sharksuits and other protective gear.

Aerospace and Security Technologies: Intevac Photonics Inc. for Night Port, a digital handheld night vision device used for government and surveillance applications.

Clean Technology: ecoATM (formerly reMobile) for ecoATM, an “eBay in a box” automated device that assesses the condition and value of mobile phones and other consumer electronics for buy-back programs or recycling.

Communications and IT: Nextivity for Cel-Fi, a self-installed technology that allows for cellular coverage indoors.

Hardware and General Technology: Cymer for XLR 600ix, a flexible power excimer laser light source for semiconductor lithography, addressing the market demand for electronic devices requiring smaller and more powerful computer chips.

Life Science — Diagnostics and Research Tools: Naviscan for Stereo Navigator Breast Biopsy Accessory, a PET-guided biopsy tool that enables physicians to treat breast abnormalities.

Life Science — Medical Products: SynergEyes for ClearKone, a hybrid contact lens used for correcting vision in people with moderate to advanced keratoconus, a degenerative eye disease.

Software: Verance Corp. for Cinavia, a digital audio watermarking technology used in protecting content, such as in Blu-Ray Disc players.

A special award in memory of Connect founder William Otterson recognized General Atomics Aeronautical Systems Inc. for the Predator, an unmanned aircraft surveillance program used for providing U.S. troops with tactical and strategic intelligence.

— Heather Chambers

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